Neck Lift Miami (Platysmaplasty): A Comprehensive Guide

The neck lift Miami surgery does not get nearly as much credit as it deserves. Many people neglect the appearance of their neck, often choosing to go for procedures that involve the appearance of their face, such as a facelift or a brow lift.

However, the neck is one of the first places where signs of aging start to show. While it is important to improve the appearance of your facial skin, it is equally important to take care of your neck, preserve its elasticity, and remove excess skin and fat that make it sag.

Wondering if the Platysmaplasty procedure is right for you? Read on to find out more about this underrated cosmetic surgery.

About the Platysmaplasty Miami

A neck lift, also known as platysmaplasty, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in your neck and jawline. It is composed of a set of procedures that includes the removal of excess skin, alteration of neck muscles, and liposuction to remove excess fat. Sometimes, Botox injections may also be included in order to address problems regarding neck fullness and the appearance of neck bands. It is also often done in conjunction with a lower face lift.

Cosmetic surgeons consider the neck lift as one of the most transformative procedures in cosmetic medicine, as it can dramatically rejuvenate your appearance without being obvious that you had cosmetic work done. It is also one of the safest and most reliable procedures in plastic surgery, despite being invasive and often requiring general anesthesia. With technological advances in cosmetic surgery over the past decade, minimal incisions can be performed, thus producing natural-looking results.

Benefits

There are a number of benefits that you will reap from your surgery. For one, it can give you natural-looking results. In fact, people may not even notice that you had work done, but will often remark that you look a lot younger than usual.

This procedure can also correct a number of cosmetic issues on the neck. The presence of a turkey wattle is one of the biggest reasons why people want to get a neck lift surgery Miami. These are loose muscles or bands on your neck that is reminiscent of that fleshy part found under the beak of a turkey. Aside from that, people who also have excess fat and skin on the neck can benefit from the results of a Platysmaplasty.

The neck lift also has a quick recovery period, usually lasting between one and three weeks. That is a relatively fast surgery recovery considering the lasting results that you will achieve. It is also considered to be a safe treatment with very few potential risks. Even the appearance of scars is minimal as they are placed in inconspicuous locations.

Needless to say, this procedure can give a much-needed boost to your confidence. You can even combine it with other facial surgeries to maximize your benefits.

Candidates

In general, you are a good candidate if you are a healthy individual without any medical conditions that might impair healing, a non-smoker, and a person with a positive outlook and realistic expectations regarding cosmetic surgery. You should also be able to afford to miss at least a week of normal activity during the surgery recovery period.

Both men and women can get a neck lift. Those who often get it are between 40 and 80 years of age, although those on the younger side are much preferred as they possess skin that is elastic enough to withstand a fair amount of stretching. Since the excess skin is cut and the rest is pulled taut, your skin should neither be too taut nor too thin.

If you are also contemplating on getting a facial procedure like a facelift, you might also be a good candidate. After all, the signs of aging found on your face may also be found on your neck, so it might be a good idea to combine these two procedures to help you achieve a younger appearance.

Procedure

Anesthesia is first administered before the procedure. The type of anesthesia largely depends on the preferences of both the patient and the surgeon. For many patients, local anesthesia combined with a sedative is enough. However, some choose to be unconscious during the surgery, hence choosing general anesthesia.

After administering the anesthesia, your surgeon will first mark the areas where the incisions will be placed. For the traditional neck lift, the incision often begins in the hairline at the level of the sideburns, continuing down and around the ear, and then ending in the posterior hair. If the neck lift is combined with liposuction for the removal of excess fat, a small stab incision may be necessary.

Excess fat deposits are removed from the neck through the process of liposuction. With the skin tented upward, a cannula is inserted just beneath the surface of the skin. It is then moved in a fan or spoke-wheel pattern in order to reduce the fat from both the central and peripheral regions of the neck. For those needing extensive removal of fat, the small stab incision might need to be enlarged up to three centimeters in order to help your surgeon properly visualize the fat on your neck and jaw areas.

The actual removal of neck bands is done by creating a fold on the neck muscles that extends from the lower part of the jaw to the thyroid cartilage. Sutures are used to create a muscle sling that will hold the fold in place, tighten the neck muscles, and reposition the underlying neck tissues. Sometimes, a small portion of the neck muscles may even be removed in order to restore the youthful appearance of your neck and enhance the definition of your jawline.

Before closing the incisions, your doctor will remove any excess skin in order to complete your surgery. Skin is redraped over the uplifted contours and pulled tautly. Any excess skin is then trimmed away before sutures are closed. Incisions are closed with minimal tension using sutures and adhesives such as skin glue.

Neck Lift Results

A neck lift surgery results in a tighter neck skin and a better-defined jawline. However, it may take several weeks or months for swelling to fully dissipate and for incision lines to heal. It is important that your incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during recovery.

Optimal results are often achieved within six months, but the results generally improve over time even after the healing process has been completed. The results typically last between five and 10 years. Post-surgical scarring is often minimal, as the incisions are placed in inconspicuous parts of your neck and jawline.

However, your lifestyle can also take a toll on your neck even after you have had the surgery. It is best to avoid smoking, drinking, and engaging in other lifestyle habits that could impair the results and make skin aging faster than usual. Lifelong sun protection is also recommended.

Preparation

Before undergoing a neck lift, you will be asked to get a lab testing or medical evaluation to ensure that you are all in an overall good state of health. If you are taking any medications, you may be asked by your surgeon to temporarily stop them, especially if they have the potential to interfere with the wound healing process right after your Platysmaplasty. Such drugs include aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements, as all these can increase bleeding.

You will also be asked to stop smoking, drinking alcohol, and consuming excessively fatty and sugary foods several weeks before the surgery to promote optimum wound healing.

Aside from your initial consultant, you will also be asked to meet with your cosmetic surgeon at least one more time before the actual surgery so that he can provide information regarding what to do the night before or morning of the surgery, what type of anesthesia will be used, and how post-operative care and follow-up consultations will be done.

Wear loose and comfortable clothing on the day of the surgery. Avoid wearing tops that need to be pulled over your head and neck.

Since a neck lift is an invasive procedure, it is imperative that you arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery for your own safety. You also need to have someone to stay with you for at least the first night right after your surgery.

Recovery

Recovery takes time, with most people being able to return to work within 10 to 14 days after surgery without any complications. If you are physically active, you need to wait at least three weeks to resume your activities.

As previously mentioned, you need to have someone to assist you for the first 24 hours after surgery, as movement will be difficult. A compression bandage could be placed around your face and neck to minimize swelling and bruising, plus a thin tube may be present to drain any excess blood and fluid that may collect under your incision site. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for your surgical site.

You will also be given specific pain medications to manage any pain or discomfort during the first few days after your surgery. For the time being, you need to make sure that you wear comfortable, loose-fitting shirts and blouses that button up the front and avoid ones that need to be pulled over your head.

Always keep your head elevated above your heart to minimize swelling. Keep your head straight all the time and avoid bending or twisting the neck. Applying an ice compress on the neck to reduce swelling is a no-no as this can compromise blood flow and result in skin death.

Recovery takes a longer period of time for those who combined the neck lift with other procedures. Check out Recovering from a Neck Lift Procedure to learn more about the recovery process.

Risks and Side Effects

Some of the most common side effects associated with a neck lift include swelling, bruising, discomfort, and scarring. Swelling, in particular, will eventually subside in a few days or weeks, but it will take at least three months for it to fully dissipate. As for scarring, the best cosmetic surgeons will make it a point to limit the size of the incision and make it as discreet as possible so that the resulting surgery scars will not be obvious.

Some complications may also arise, such as infection, allergic reaction to anesthesia, fluid accumulation neck tightness, numbness, skin irregularities, and deep vein thrombosis. Though the occurrence of these complications is very rare, it is highly recommended that you choose an experienced and reputable surgeon to further reduce the appearance of these risks.

Combining Neck Lift with Other Treatments

In general, any facial cosmetic procedure can be combined with a neck lift. This will allow you to reduce your preparation and recovery time as compared to getting the procedures on a separate basis.

Neck Liposuction

The most commonly combined procedure with neck lifts is liposuction. In many cases, this is actually a part of the whole process, as it removes fullness underneath the chin and refines your jawline, helping you achieve a better defined and more graceful neckline. This is especially beneficial for patients with a double chin, as well as those who are still below 50 years of age, as they have better skin elasticity than more senior patients.

Facelift

Another favorite among patients is the facelift, which lifts and firms your sagging facial tissues, smooths deep folds, and tightens your deep facial tissues, hence restoring a more naturally youthful facial appearance. It is very seldom that a surgeon performs a facelift without incorporating some element of a neck lift or contouring, and vice versa. In fact, a lower face lift often includes a neck lift . Combining these two procedures addresses the presence of jowl, sagging cheeks, and lax neck tissues in one go.

Chin Augmentation

With the chin’s proximity to the neck, it is but natural for some patients to also request a chin augmentation together with their neck lift to better refine the neckline. Chin augmentation adds proportion and definition to a weak or receding chin and provides balance to other facial features. Though there are several ways to perform a chin augmentation surgery, by far the most popular technique is the placement of chin implants. This procedure typically lasts for 45 minutes up to an hour and a half, depending on several factors. Local or general anesthesia may be used.

Nose Lift

To further balance the proportions of your face and neckline, you may want to also combine your neck lift with rhinoplasty, commonly known as a nose lift. It helps improve the shape, size, and symmetry of your nose, bringing it into better proportion with the rest of your face. Reshaping your nose while also improving your jawline will not only dramatically enhance the sense of balance on your face, but also improve your overall appearance.

Cost

According to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2014, the average cost of neck lift and lower face lift in the United States is $4,389, but this still does not include anesthesia, room facilities, and other related expenses.

Most insurance companies do not cover neck lift surgery or its complications, but many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans. However, if your surgery is meant to correct a medical condition, do not forget to tell your health insurer and ask your surgeon to write a letter certifying this fact.

A neck lift surgery has the power to instantly enhance your experience and make you appear a lot younger than you really are. Learn more about this procedure by scheduling a Free Consultation with one of our board-certified and highly experienced plastic surgeons here on Face + Body Cosmetic Surgery.